This Week in Marvel focuses on delivering all the Marvel info on news and new releases–from comics to video games to toys to TV to film and beyond! New episodes will be released every Tuesday and Thursday (or so) and TWiM is co-hosted by Marvel VP Executive Editor of Digital Media Ryan “Agent M” Penagos and Editorial Director of Marvel Digital Media Ben Morse with Manager, Video & Content Production: Blake Garris, Editor Marc Strom, and Assistant Editor Christine Dinh. We also want your feedback, as well as questions for us to answer on future episodes! Tweet your questions, comments and thoughts about TWiM to @AgentM, @BenJMorse, @blakegarris or @Marvel with the hashtag #ThisWeekinMarvel!

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Download Episode 329 of This Week in Marvel

Published Feb 16, 2018
By Christine Dinh

Old Man Hawkeye writer Ethan Sacks joins the podcast!

Kick your big Marvel weekend off right with a brand-new episode of This Week in Marvel!

In this installment, Tucker yells, Alex invents a reason to go to Hong Kong, and Ryan doesn’t like rollercoasters. Then, OLD MAN HAWKEYE writer Ethan Sacks drops by to talk about the future of the series and how he got his start in comics.

With new episodes every Friday, This Week in Marvel delivers all the latest Marvel discussion and news about comics, TV, movies, games, toys, and beyond! TWiM is hosted by Marvel Creative Executive Ryan “Agent M” Penagos, Marvel.com Assistant Editor Tucker Markus, and Assistant Manager of Social Media Alex Lopez. We want your feedback—as well as questions for us to answer on future episodes—so tweet your questions and comments about the show to @AgentM, @tuckermarkus, @alexl0pez_, or @Marvel with the hashtag #ThisWeekinMarvel!

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Amazing Spider-Man #800 Will Feature The Red Goblin and Spidey’s Final Showdown

Published Feb 16, 2018
By Eric Goldman

Dan Slott nears the end of his AMAZING run with a milestone issue on May 30.

After 10 years, Dan Slott’s epic run on AMAZING SPIDER-MAN is nearing its end in a big way with the “Go Down Swinging” arc, and AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #800 will be an appropriately huge issue in more ways than one.

Slott and artist Stuart Immonen will unveil what’s being touted as the biggest Peter Parker and Norman Osborn story of all time, joined by Humberto Ramos, Giuseppe Camuncoli and Jim Cheung. AMAZING #800 will mark the first Marvel comic to ever hit 800 issues, and will feature 80 pages of brand-new story from Slott, who has written more issues of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN than any creator.

Slott’s time on AMAZING – before he moves over to IRON MAN – will wrap up in #801, but first “Go Down Swinging” is giving fans one of the most exciting stories in Spider-Man lore, culminating with Spider-Man facing his most evil villain yet.

Said editor Nick Lowe, “AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #800 is the biggest single-issue story I’ve ever worked on. It’s 80-pages of story! And Dan and Stuart are being joined by some very important past AMAZING SPIDER-MAN artists to bring it to you in the coolest way possible! Everything you’ve loved about Dan Slott’s run on this book is on full display in this monumental issue that will have you shivering, crying, cheering, laughing and wishing it would never end!”

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Get ready for the X-Men Wedding Special

Kelly Thompson and Marc Guggenheim unite! Chris Claremont returns!

It’s almost time for Kitty Pryde and Colossus to tie the knot…but a Marvel Wedding is never a simple affair!

This May, take part in epic and adventurous stories written by Kelly Thompson and Marc Guggenheim! Plus, a wedding gift all on its own in the form of a brand-new Kitty Pryde story from legendary writer Chris Claremont, who returns to the X-Men just in time for the celebrations! But remember, when super heroes get together, mayhem ensues…and the X-Men are no exception.

“X-Men Weddings are always a big deal, if only because they’re so rare,” teases Thompson. “I think you probably have to go all the way back to X-MEN #30 in 1994—the wedding of Jean Grey and Cyclops—to get a wedding as potentially big as the wedding of Kitty Pryde and Colossus: two X-Men who’ve been around (and on again/off again) for literal decades.”

In this essential companion to the X-MEN: GOLD storyline “‘Til Death Do Us Part,” get a glimpse at Kitty and Peter’s march toward wedded bliss! It’s a celebration, Marvel style, with all the action, adventure, and surprises that we’ve come to know and love from Marvel’s merry mutants—and it’s only in comic shops this May!

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Ryan Coogler and Ta-Nehisi Coates Talk Black Panther

Published Feb 16, 2018
By Josh Weiss

Preview the director and the writer's exclusive conversation!

The time has come…Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” is in theaters now!

Travel to Wakanda, meet the King, and explore his world. But when the movie ends, you can continue to journey alongside the Black Panther in writer Ta-Nehisi Coates and artist Leonard Kirk’s BLACK PANTHER. The series, which “Black Panther” executive producer Nate Moore has described as one of the “most inspirational” for the movie, sees T’Challa battling Ulysses Klaue, teaming up with Nakia, Shuri, and Ayo, and handling the responsibilities of the throne.

And on February 28, aside from the action and political intrigue of the story, issue #170 will debut an exclusive conversation between series writer, acclaimed novelist Ta-Nehisi Coates and Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler! The two creators explore each other’s thoughts on the character, the new film, and the cultural impact of Black Panther.

Here’s a quick snippet of their talk:

Ta-Nehisi Coates: So how do you feel now, after the premiere the other night? Is the weight still on your shoulders? Are you feeling like you did something? Are you happy yet? How you feeling?

Ryan Coogler: At premieres, you got a room full of people who want the film to work, you know what I’m saying? Everybody here wants the film to work. They want to watch a good movie. They want to see something that is going to make them proud. It makes you incredibly nervous, man, and you don’t know if the response is real or not. But I’ll tell you now that that night, the Panther premiere, that experience…Man, that’s one I’m going to remember for the rest of my life. I’m still trying to process it now.

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The History of the Black Panther: 1981-1982

Published Feb 16, 2018
By Jim Beard

The Panther encounters the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man and more!

For more than 50 years, the Black Panther has stood at the forefront on the Marvel Universe. With T’Challa appearing on the big screen again this year in both Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” take a look back at over five decades worth of comic book adventures for the King of Wakanda!

The Black Panther found himself psychically forced to attend a gathering of heroes at Avengers Mansion in AVENGERS #211. There, he discovered a membership drive of sorts taking place, driven by the mental powers of Moondragon to bolsters the team’s ranks. When fights broke out among those gathered, T’Challa resisted Moondragon’s challenge and any offer of Avengers membership for the time being.

After being among the many heroes present for the tragic events in THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN MARVEL, T’Challa welcomed his friends the Fantastic Four to his African nation of Wakanda in FANTASTIC FOUR #241, and learned that the famous family sought a strange energy signature within the country’s borders. T’Challa disguised himself as one of his warriors to keep an eye on his friends, but when they stumbled upon a man using an ancient alien power to set himself up as a Roman emperor, he moved in to help them bring him down.

Fantastic Four (1961) #241

The cosmic Grandmaster summoned every known hero on Earth to compete in a grandiose game in CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS #1, and the Black Panther learned of the being’s desire to resurrect his brother the Collector should he win. Placed on a team alongside the X-Men’s Angel and the Russian hero Vanguard, T’Challa traveled to a city in Japan in CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS #3 to battle the Thing, Wolverine, and Peregrine. The Wakandan monarch’s team ultimately lost the challenge.

T’Challa next traveled to Washington D.C. to support the Hulk’s plea for amnesty from the President of the United States in INCREDIBLE HULK #278. When a supposed alien attack broke out, the Black Panther fought alongside the green giant to stop it, and then later raised his voice in triumph as the Hulk stood hailed as a hero.

Iron Man Annual (1970) #5

Tony Stark visited some holdings in Wakanda in IRON MAN ANNUAL #5, but ran face first into a gambit by Madame Slay to kill T’Challa. The Panther’s old foe Erik Killmonger then claimed the heroic mantle while Iron Man helped T’Challa behind the scenes to root out the true villain of the piece: The Mandarin.

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The Villains of Black Panther

Published Feb 15, 2018
By Steffi Feldman

Dive into the Marvel library with Erik Killmonger!

Before Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” hits the big screen this weekend, we decided to look back at the comic book history of a few of T’Challa’s greatest nemeses. Part One covered the life and times of Ulysses Klaue, and today we’ll review the Black Panther’s other archenemy: N’Jadaka, A.K.A. Erik Killmonger!

Forced into servitude by the evil Ulysses Klaue, N’Jadaka’s father was forced to help the mastermind steal vibrantium from Wakanda. The heist culminated in Klaue’s murder of King T’Chaka before the villain went on a rampage, killing N’Jadaka’s entire family before taking him captive.

Jungle Action (1973) #6

After escaping Klaue’s clutches, N’Jadaka ended up in Harlem, New York. There, the young man developed a deep hatred for T’Chaka, believing that his weak leadership was responsible for the death of his family. In return for these perceived failures, N’Jadaka vowed to take revenge on T’Chaka’s son, T’Challa. During his time in Harlem, N’Jadaka changed his name to Erik Killmonger and dedicated his life to avenging his family’s murder.

Erik cultivated his combat skills, and eventually got his Doctorate in engineering, before contacting T’Challa himself for permission to return to Wakanda. His request was granted, and once in the country, the villain began working to overthrow the King. After wreaking havoc on several small villages, Killmonger lured The Black Panther into coming to help. Then, using his trained leopard, Preyy, as well as a number of his followers, the man formerly known as N’Jadaka attacked. After being defeated in his initial run-in, Killmonger returned again with the aid of fellow baddies Sombre and King Cadaver. After another battle, T’Challa prevailed again, this time killing his foe in the process.

Black Panther (1998) #16

Killmonger was resurrected by his followers and, in a meeting of villainous minds, teamed up with Klaue to take down T’Challa. This time, however, he succeeded, defeating T’Challa and taking control of Wakanda. Though, when Killmonger tried to consume the Heart-Shaped Herb to undergo the full process of becoming The Black Panther, the Herb turned out to be poisonous to those not of the royal bloodline. After recovering from being poisoned, Erik learned that T’Challa had retaken his place on the throne, but had not resumed his duties as The Black Panther—a New York cop named Kaspar Cole had taken over the mantle instead. Killmonger created a synthetic version of the Heart-Shaped Herb and came to New York City for a rendezvous with Cole, and attempted to woo him into revolting against T’Challa to no avail.

Recently, since T’Challa resumed his position as The Black Panther, Killmonger was the despotic ruler of Wakanda’s neighbor country, Niganda. After capturing T’Challa’s sister, Shuri, Wakanda invaded in retaliation and, in the chaos, Erik Killmonger was killed again.

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The History of Spider-Man: 2000

Published Feb 15, 2018
By Jim Beard

Mary Jane appeared to suffer a dire fate, while the Green Goblin sought his revenge.

For over 50 years, Spider-Man has been a sensational standout in the Marvel Universe and the web-slinger will swing onto the silver screen once again in Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Infinity War” this May! In celebration of his memorable history, we present Spidey’s spectacular step-by-step story…

Hoping to patch up his marriage with Mary Jane in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #13, Peter Parker attempted to see her off at the airport, but missed her. Later, her plane exploded in mid-air…

Peter Parker: Spider-Man (1999) #14

A mysterious phone call in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #15 informed Peter of his wife’s survival in far-off Latveria, so as Spidey he jetted to the little European nation to clash with a Doctor Doom robot in PETER PARKER: SPIDER-MAN #15 and come up empty-handed in his search for Mary Jane. Returning from Latveria in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #16, the “Parker Luck” continued with his eviction from his home and the loss of his new job at Tricorp. Meanwhile, Venom battled the Sandman in PETER PARKER: SPIDER-MAN #16 and delivered a vicious bite to the former criminal.

The story began with Leia thinking of all she lost when the Empire ordered the destruction of her beloved home Alderaan, but that trip down memory lane came to an end when duty called. The Blockade Runner she traveled in reached a planet called Shiva that had garnered Imperial interest. She and Captain Chedaki planned to take a shuttle to figure out why, but when the Runner hit space mines, the plan got scuttled.

The shuttle itself caught on fire, so to save everyone else – Chedaki perished in the initial explosion – she flew the craft out of the larger Rebel vessel and crash landed on Shiva itself. There she survived on her own for a few days before running into Aron Preacebringer and his band of warriors including Keran and Delois. This group found themselves locked in a war with the Outcasts in a battle mostly fought with swords and blasters.

Star Wars (1977) #53

At first, Leia and Aron did not understand one another because of the language barrier and the Translatacomp did not recognize the speech at all. After fending off the Outcasts, the group returned to Aron’s throne city where he reunited with his wife Alisande. While there, Aron tried to figure out who had bombed one of the nearby cities and Leia acclimated to life on Shiva as best she could, though the growing feelings between Peacebringer and herself threatened to complicate her stay.

Conflicted about being rescued by the Rebels – part of her liked the sound of living a far more simple life on this out-of-the-way planet – Leia soon found herself in the middle of a much bigger problem as Imperial Blackguards came out of nowhere and subdued both her and Aron before taking them to their boss, Imperial Strike Force General Sk’Ar.

Once in the villain’s clutches, Aron learned that his compatriot Delois had betrayed them. He sold them out to the Empire and would become the planet’s leader after the Imperials took over. After learning how Sk’Ar intended to take Shiva over, Aron and Leia broke free of their captors and escaped into a ship that they used to catch up with a bomber. They dismantled the bomb aboard the craft, but received some unexpected help from Luke Skyalker who seemingly appeared out of nowhere to stop Delios from getting the drop on Leia.

Star Wars (1977) #54

With most of the villains wrapped up by the combined might of Aron’s men and the Millennium Falcon’s usual crew, Sk’Ar attempted to make an escape that Chewbacca stopped by throwing a solid steel gun mount so hard at the craft that it exploded!

The elaborate celebration afterwards came to an abrupt end for the Falcon-fliers when word of a Star Destroyer in orbit called them to action. Luke took the controls from Lando and worked some fancy flying as he took the ship close enough to a black hole, but darted away after the Destroyer got stuck in its pull.

After all of this death and destruction, Leia showed why she was a formidable Rebel leader. She not only mourned the loss of her homeworld, but also all of the sentient lives who came to an end on that Star Destroyer and in the war in general. Luke even offered to drop her back off on Shiva and say that the rescue mission came up empty handed. Leia persevered, though, saying “I am Princess of Alderaan, Luke. Fate has cast me as a leader of the Rebellion. For better or worse, whatever the outcome…I’ll play that role to the finish.”

From the Jedi Temple Archives

If some of the characters in this story, like Aron Peacebringer seem somewhat familiar, that’s because they began life as pages for the JOHN CARTER WARLORD OF MARS series that Marvel produced between 1977 and 1979. Carmine Infantino drew several pages that wound up not getting published because the series came to an end. Chris Claremont and Walt Simonson then came in to take the existing material, tweak it a bit and come up with a Star Wars story turned out to be a fantastic spotlight on Princess Leia!

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The Villains of Black Panther

Published Feb 14, 2018
By Steffi Feldman

Discover the history of Ulysses Klaue!

Before Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” hits the big screen this weekend, we decided to dive into the Marvel library to look at the comic book history of a few of T’Challa’s greatest nemeses. First up: Ulysses Klaue!

During World War II, German Colonel Fritz Klaue was sent into Wakanda to steal government and military secrets. His secret visit to Wakanda left a major impression on the man, and after the war, he raised his son, Ulysses, with tales of the African nation’s majesty. When Ulysses grew up, he earned his Doctorate in physics before making his full debut in the pages of 1966’s FANTASTIC FOUR #53.

In search of a power source for his greatest experiment—a sound transducer capable of converting sound waves into physical mass—Klaue stole precious vibranium metal, only found in Wakanda, from the kingdom. In the process of this theft, Klaue murdered the Wakandan ruler and Black Panther, T’Chaka. T’Chaka’s son, T’Challa, was devastated by the loss, took up his father’s former mantles as both the king and the sacred warrior, and vowed to get revenge on Klaue. During T’Challa and Klaue’s first encounter, the villain escaped, but the Panther managed to to chop off his hand during the fight.

Fantastic Four (1961) #53

Ulysses Klaue retreated, consolidated his new powers, and became a master of sound energy. He invented a molybdenum steel sound generator and affixed it to his right wrist as a prosthetic, and named it the “force glove.” This weapon enabled him to transform ambient sound into concussive blasts as well as mobile sound projections that can carry out actions on his behalf. The “force glove” eventually gave way to a different vibranium-powered sonic converter that allowed Klaue to convert his physical body into a creature of psionically “solidified” sound energy. This sonic state made him more dangerous than ever before—rendering him nearly immortal as his body could be torn apart and then fuse back together. This sound energy state, however, had its drawbacks: it left him more susceptible to vibranium attacks, which caused his solid form to collapse into loose energy.

Klaue went on to evade the Black Panther as well as various other heroes (most notably the Fantastic Four) for several years. Though, in 1979’s MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #57, Klaue battled the hero Dazzler, and saw his humanoid sonic form dissolve. His non-corporeal form blasted into outer space, where he remained for some time. As the vaccuum of space is not conducive to sound waves, the villain was unable to reform his sonic self.

Marvel Two-in-One (1974) #57

He remained unable to take solid form again until he was collected by Galactus and restored to his humanoid state by Doctor Doom during the events of Secret Wars. Having been without his physical form for so long, the man had gone insane and was speaking only in rhyme. After returning to Earth, Klaue began to heal, and the agency known as A.I.M. eventually assured that his vacuum episode would never happen again when they enabled him to exist in outer space. A.I.M. also installed the powers of the “force glove” into Klaue’s body itself.

After joining various villainous groups including A.I.M., the Frightful Four, the Pacific Overlords, and the Masters of Evil, Ulysses Klaue most recently met up again with T’Challa in the pages of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ BLACK PANTHER. The reappearance of Ulysses Klaue revealed the character’s unexpectedly humanizing backstory and motivations; he took up his research and sought after vibranium as a means to heal his sister, who had been in a coma for years. Despite the legitimate sources of his machinations, Klaue still worked to bring an uprising against T’Challa, recruiting an army from nearby nations to bring war to the land of Wakanda.